ExtremeTech gives a good breakdown of this experimental technology that the tech world has been abuzz about. HP has been working hard on this project that is trying to build the replacement for flash memory, which might be hitting a scaling problem. Trying to reduce the process size of flash memory is taking a long time, we don’t expect to 20 or 30nm for about a year which is really impacting storage density. If memristors transition to the Fab smoothly then the density will be attractive as HP has made parts of 3nm in their labs. As if that wasn’t enough to put a smile on the faces of those needing high speed, high density storage it turns out that memristors have an interesting and unique trick. Not only can they function as storage, they can perform logic functions as well. The speculations of them being able to learn are perhaps a little exaggerated in the media, but the theory that the speculation comes from is sound.
"Last week, I read a lot about HP’s advances with the memristor. This is a new class of tiny switch that could eventually change some of the fundamental ways computing devices are designed, and I am very intrigued. In theory, at least, the new technology could allow for a replacement for NAND Flash memory, maybe for DRAM and hard drives, and maybe even for logic at some point. It’s fascinating technology—but of course, the path from theory to commercial product is often longer and more complex that it initially appears."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Making ISPs common carriers: just a simple "error correction" @ Ars Technica
- Cisco Flip SlideHD Review @ Digital Trends
- Samsung builds world’s first 20nm semiconductor chips @ The Inquirer
- Ultrathin Silk-Based Electronics Make Better Brain Implants @ Wired Magazine
- Makerbot clone @ Hack a Day
- Cool Tech For Your Pet: Dog-e-Minder Review @ Legit Reviews
- Opera Mini vs. Safari on the iPhone @ Digital Trends
- Kodak EasyShare Z950 Digital Camera Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Campus Party 2010 in Spain – Day 2 @ Madshrimps